Electrically ignited torpedo



y 13, R. H. FLADGER 1,918,594

ELECTRICALLY IGNITE D TORPEDO Filed May 6, 1932 INVENTOR.

BY Ra/pfi /7f F/aayer WW/%- ma ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 1 H v UNITEDESTATES- PATENT i ()FFiGE mam n'rrianenn, or DAL AS, TEXAS, assreivon or" ONEJI-ALF 'ro THE SHIELD con:

PANY,'IN 'C., or ronrwon rn, Texas, A conrona'rronor 'rnxns ELEGTRIGALLY' IGNI'JED renrnno Application ined-m c, 1932. Serial No. 609,653;

This. invention relatesto new and useful improvements in electrically ignited torpedoes. 7

- One object of the invention is to provide an electrically ignited torpedo for connect on in an electricalcircuit, such as the high tension ignition circuit of an" automobile engine, so

th at when said circuit is closed the electrical current will ignite and explode the torpedo.

,9 1 Another object of the invention is to provide an electrically ignited topedofor connection. inthe-ignition circuit of an automobile engine, whereby the closing of said circuit by a person unaware of the torpedo installationl will produce a very startling and amusing affect upon said person and other persons either within or in close proximity to the automobile, as well as attract the attention of nearby persons, thus making for 2 amusement and entertainment and an alarm for burglary or theftof said automobile. n A further object of the invention is to provide means for connecting the invention with otherdevices of ignitible or explosive nature, whereby the ignition and consequent explosion of the inventionwill effect the subsequent ignition off said other devices, thus making for a prolonged and variable display. Still another object of'the invention is to provide an electrically ignited torpedo as hereinbefore'set forth which is of simple and efficient manufacture and of such construction andmaterial that the resultant residue and effects upon surrounding objects is noninjurious. 7

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described tov gether with other features of the invention;

- The invention will bermore readilyunden stood froma readingof the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingin which an example of the invention is shown, andwherein: v Figure I is a longitudinal sectional view 5 of a device} constructed in accordance with theinvention,

' Figure 2 is a transverse sectional v'iewof the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

' Figure 3 is a side elevationalview showing 5 the torpedo connected in combination with an'explosive element having a protruding fuse,

Figure 'is an end elevation of the'same, Figure 5 is a' transverse sectional View takenon line 55 of Fig. 1, and Figure 6 is a partial elevation of an automobile engine showing one method of con necting the invention in the ignition circuit of said engine. v

In the drawing the numeral 10 designates 6b a torpedo comprising a shell 11 of paper or other suitable insulating material of low dielectric strengthq This shell has its. ends closed and contains a charge 12"of easily ignitible or explosive material such as a pow- 6t; der mixture consisting of approximately 90% black gun-powder and 10% magnesium powder and aluminium dust. An electrical conductor or-eopper wire 13 has one of its ends extending longitudinally of the shell to andat the center thereof through the charge -with the end of said wire crimped externally of said shell to prevent displacement therefrom. A second copper wire 14 has one of its ends encircling the shell externally and se- 15 cured thereabout to form a spark gap A intermediate said wire and the wire 13 and within the charge, so that when a high tension electrical current is supplied to said wires-an electric spark will be formed in the spark gap A, thereby igniting the charge and exploding the torpedo.

The spark gap thus formed is for the purpose of increasing the resistance to the conductivity of the electrical current through the charge as the most commonly known powders or explosive materials suitable for composing the charge are of an electrically conductive nature and of too low resistance to be afltected by the passage of a high ten- 99 sion electrical current therethrough. But where the ingredients composing the charge are of high enoughresistance to be ignited by the conductionof ahigh tension current therethrough the formation'of the spark gap or the insertion of added resistance between the conductors is not necessary and both of the conductors may be in direct contact with the charge. Irrespective of the formation of the resistance, it is essential that the conductors 9 be positioned so that the point of least resistance to the transmission of the electric current between th'e'condu ctors is through the charge thereby preventing the arcing of said current around the charge. This is carried out by positioning the conductors so that the lead from the shell in opposite directions an in widely separated relation apart from the charge. I

The shell 11 is preferably formed of material having a low tensile strength so that the entire torpedo.

said shell will burst under a low internal ressure, whereby the force of the explosion is reduced to a minimum and harmful effects upon surrounding ob ects 1s eliminated. It

is also preferable that the material of which I the shell is formed be of'a fibrous substance such as paper, cardboard or the like so that flying particlesof the shell caused by explosion of the charge will not be harmful and dangerous. Furthermore, with the construction illustrated, the shell being formed of an insulatingmaterial of lowdielectric strength acts as an added resistance for increasing the resistance to the conductivity of the electric current through the charge whereby the same is ignited by said current. The torpedo when constructed is provided with a moisture proof highly ignitable and electrically conductive nature is used in such small proportions that the particles thereof are separated and spaced throughout the charge and form a partial bridge of the spark gap A, thereby v enabling a spark gap of greater width and a larger charge 12 to be used than would be otherwise possible. The gun-powder when ignited produces the effective noisev sought together with alarge cloud of white smoke, while the magnesium powder provides a'very luminous effect which is particularly brilliant at night and enlarges upon the flash .of the burning powders.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the use of these particular powders asother powders of analogous nature maybe used toproduce. the desired results. .The aluminiumdust andthc magnesium powder are not essential to the operation of the device 'and are used merely. toenlarge upon the effects produced. v I

As best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5,'the torpedo 10 is connected in combination. with anelement 16 containing anignitible charge having a protruding fuse 17. The element illustrated i s what is commonly known as a whistling chaser and is adapted with the torpedo for ignition subsequent to the explosion of said torpedo. The torpedo and theelement are positioned alongside one another with the fuse-17 therebetween, and are secured by the wire 14 and an encircling tape 1 8: A plurality of pin like punctures 19 are provided in the shell 11 opposite the fuse for weakening said shell, whereby the rupture of the same is assured at the fuse upon ignition of the charge, thus effecting a positive ignition of said fuse.

For operation of the device in the ignition circuit of :an automobile engine, one of the wires 13 and 14 is connected to one of the spark plugs 20 of the engine 21 while the tuted for the element 16. In this way varied results may be' obtained subsequent to the explosion of the torpedo.

It is obvious that such a device when used either by itself or in'combination with other elements will have a very startling and amusing effect upon persons "who are unaware of the installation and who are either within or in close proximity to theeautomobile at the time of the explosion, and 'will also serve as an alarm to attract attention to said automo- 'b'ile'upon attempted burglary or theft of the same, thusimaking for usefulness as well as amusement and entertainment.

It is also pointed out that this electrically ignited torpedo may be used for ignitin or setting off explosive charges such as t ose used in mining, blasting and. the like, fireworks displays and other types of fused apparatus. For convenience in connecting the torpedo to these various apparatuses and charges an auxiliary fuse 22 may be inserted in the end f the torpedo adjacent the wire 13, as shownin-Figures 1 and 3, for insertion of its'outer'eiid in the charge in place of the fuse therein, such as the fuse 17, or, vice versa,

the fuse j17. may-be inserted inthe torpedo in place of 'the fuse 22. In this way the external connection of the fuse as shown in Fig.3 may be eliminated if desired. The invention is not to be limited to the manner of connecting the fuse as various other ways may be used with good results. i

Various changes in'the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, is:

' 1. In a new article of manufacture, an electrically ignited torpedo comprising a closed shell containing a charge of easily ignitibleor explosivematerlal, an electrical conductor extending internally of the shell and within the charge, and a second electrical conductor encircling the shell and the first named conductor to form a spark gap between said conductors and within said charge.

2. In a new article of manufacture, an electrically ignited torpedo comprising a shell formed of material of low dielectric strength and containing a charge of easily ignited or explosive material, an electrical conductor extending through the shell and within the charge, and a second electrical conductor externally of the shell and adapted with relation to the first named conductor whereby the point ofleast resistance to the transmission of a high tension electrical current between said conductors is through said shell and said charge.

3. A new article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2,'with a moisture proof coating enclosing the shell and the second electrical conductor, said coating being of an electrically non-conductive nature.

4. In anew article of manufacture, the combination of an ignitible element having a protruding fuse and an electrically ignited torpedo in secured relationship to said element and comprising a closed shell containing a charge of easily ignited or explosive mate rial, a pair ofelectrical conductors secured to the shell and adapted in spaced relation with each other for transmission of a high tension electrical current therebetween and through the charge for igniting the same, the protruding end of the fuse being positioned intermediate the shell and the element, and said shell having a weakened portion opposite the fuse.

5. In a new article of manufacture, an electrically ignited torpedo comprising a closed ed in spaced relation with each other for transmitting a high tension electrical current through the charge for igniting the same,-

said charge consisting partly of explosive material of high electrical conductivity forforming a partial conductive bridge for said current intermediate the conductors and partly of powdered magnesium for producing a light flash of great intensity.

6. 'In an electrically ignited torpedo, a shell containing an explosive charge, a pair of electrical conductors adapted with relation to each other to transmit a high tension electrical current through the charge, the conductors being separated by an insulation of low dielectric strength for increasing the resistance to the transmission of said current through said charge, whereby the charge is ignited by the current.

7. In an electrically ignited torpedo, a shell containing an explosive charge, apair of electrical conductors adapted with relation to each other and to the charge for transmitting a high tension electrical current through said charge, and means for increasing the resistance of the conductivity of the electrical current through said charge, whereby the same is ignited by said current.

8. In an'electrically ignited torpedo, an explosive charge. a pair of electrical conductors adapted with relation to each other and V to the charge for transmitting a high tension electrical current through the charge for.

igniting the same, one of said conductors engaging the charge and the other conductor isolated from said charge.

9. In an electrically ignited torpedo, a shell formed of material of low dielectric strength, an explosive charge contained Within said shell, and a pair of electrical conductors adapted to the charge for conducting a high tension electrical current therethrough whereby said charge is ignited by said curtItALPH H. FLADGER.

rent. 

